Cargo and combat pack



Feb.` 15, 1949.

.|.w.cu1 l l ETAL CARGO AND COMBAT PACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2e, 1946 NdssoD BY IDQY' Mm am awww" #fron Ny Feb. l5, 1949. 5J. w. :U| l l Erm,y

CARGO AND COMBAT PACK s sheets-sheet s Filed Aug. 26, 1946 NVN om cfmE T BYELDCLY' Nl S509 Patented Feb. 15, 1949 LJNi'iED STATES rarer omer. f

Y 2,461,526 Y CARGO AND COMBAT PACK John W. Culi, Normandy, Mo., land Einar Nilsson,

, Berkeley, Calif.

I 5 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 37) G. 757) This invention relates to pack carriers, and

more particularly to a military pack carrier Vpro-V vided with separate kits which may be detachably secured together and suspended on packcarrying Suspenders, the kits being adapted to be Iquickly detached from each other and from the suspenders, so that onekit may be carried alone when that becomes desirable or advisable.

, A haversack or packis a part of the equipment of all troops of the Army ground forces operating on the field. In this are carried the toilet articles, cooking utensils and extra clothes such as socks, raincoats, etc. The haversacks used by the armed forces until quite recently were provided with a pack carrier in which blankets, a shelter half and possibly extra clothing were rolled and the entire 4roll and pack carrier attached to the haversack. The making of these rolls required much time even by experienced soldiers, and the rolls were Iawkwardto attach to the haversack.. When' discarded the roll was quite apt to break open so that everything in it became scattered. Another disadvantage of these haversacks was the fact that the articles carried could not be taken out of the roll Without opening :and taking apart the whole roll. In addition to these disadvantages the haversack with roll attached was hard to adjust upon a man and did not ride easily.

These disadvantages have been largely overcome in the improved eld pack described herein. In place of the pack carrier formerly used, the improved eld pack is provided with a separate bag which may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from the rest of the pack and which is so constructed that it may accommodate all the articles formerly carried in the pack when rolled, and that when detached, it may be used as a separate utility bag. This construction also has the advantage that when it becomes necessary to discard the cargo bag in the field there is little chance of the articles packed therein becoming scattered, and the discarded bags can be quickly picked up and secured by salvage crews. Furthermore the other kit or bag which forms part of the complete eld pack is so constructed as to provide suilicient space for all personal accoutrement essential in combat, and the pack is so arranged that these ,articles can be maintained segregated so that they are quickly picked up when needed. 1 Y f 'Accordingly 'it is an object of the invention to panying drawings in which:

provide a new and improvedield pack in which the articles absolutely essential in combat may be carried in a bag separately from the pack or bag in which the articles not absolutely essential are carried, which latter bag may be detached from and discarded in a minimum of time without scattering the :articles contained therein.

Another object of the present inventionv is a field pack provided with two compartments, one of which is also adaptable for use as a utilitybag when it is detached from the :field pack.

A further object of the present invention .is a eld pack having twok compartment packs or bags which may be used separately or combined into va single pack i l r f A still further object of the present invention is a field pack which can be constructed from inexpensive materials, but which because of the particular arrangement of the separate parts thereof issuicie'ntly'durable and sturdy to Withstand use in combat by the armed forces.

Other objects and advantages'of the invention and improvements'in construction will become` and accomapparent from the following design Fig. 1 is ap'e'rspectlve view lof theimproved cargo and combat field pack;

Fig-2 is a perspective View of the cargo utilit bag which forms part of the improved eld pack;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the combat pack which forms part of the improved field pack;

Fig. 4 is a View on an enlarged scale, .of the manner in which the rear side of the cargo bag is secured to the combat pack;

Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale, of the manner in which the front straps of the cargo bag are secured to the combat pack in" theirnproved cargo and combat iield pack;

Fig. 6 is adetailed viewoi a web suspension strap associated with the combat pack; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views .of .a waterproofing sleeve or throat associated with the field pack, shown respectively in open and closedposition. v

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a combined cargoand combat eld pack comprising a combat pack or bag A and a cargo bagL or pack B. Both of these bags are constructed from cotton duck of suilcient weight to makethem sturdy and durable. The bag A is of the conventional pouch type, having a rectangular body Ill with front panel I I and back panel I2,Vand a cover y I3. A` pair of suspension straps I4 is secured to the cover. Each suspension strap It consists of an elongated web strap to which is secured at one 3 end a bar buckle I5, While the other end IB is preferably tipped by a. iiat ferrule. The end of strap I4 which carries bar buckle I5 extends to the lower edge of cover I3, while the opposite ends of strap I4 depend freely from the back p0rtion I2 of the bag. These ferrule-tipped free ends I6 are adaptedto be insertedl into bar buckles I6 of a pair of Suspenders Il. A second pair of web straps I9 is sewn to the front panel II of bag A; each Web strap carries at its one end" a bar buckle 2D and D-ring 2l, and is preferably ferrule tipped at its other end 22. The pair of web straps I9 is fastened to front panelY II o fy bag A in such a manner that a free end 22 extends upwardly for engagement with; bag buckle., i 5. for the purpose of closing the cover I 3 (which carries web straps I4 and bar buckles I5). A pair of conventional snap hooks 23 attached; to the` free 4 in order to lighten the weight on the wearers shoulders by transferring part of the Weight of the pack to the lower back muscles.

In packing the bags A and B, it will be found advantageous to place such articles in bag A as are necessary in hand-to-hand combat operations, While articles less urgently needed are placed in bag B; Thus, when the soldier finds himself encumbered by the combined Weight of f pack bags A and B during combat, he will detach bag B.: by simply unthreading the free ends 29 and 3i! of web Straps 28 of bag B from their bar buckles` on bagl A, and change the engagement of snap hooks 23 of Suspenders I'I from ends of Suspenders I'l may releasably engage,

D-rings 2 I, thereby enabling the bag to be carried Qa tbewearers back..

either. by itself, or together with second bas B will be,A presently. described .with particular emphasis on thevmeans for;V removablyconnecting itl to. rst. bag; A.`

The second or utility bag B has a'y rectangular front, paneL` a rectangular back panel, and a cover. 24. Two pairs of bar bucklesv 25, 26 are fastened-tothe `topt cover 2.4, and a third pair of bar bucklesfZ]w is. fastened to the free edge of cover.Y 24. A-pair ofweb straps-28 isfastened attheirmiddletothe bottom of bag B, and the freeendsgZSLSiLofweb straps 28 extend upwardly for engagement with bar buckles.25, 2.5-,21 Begg may. thus be closedwithout slide fasteners,

. huttbnsor other means/likelyY to-get out of order or,to.-beco1 ne. lost under conditions Vof .heavy Wear. flexiblegweb, strap-handle 3l. on cover 24 of bagBlprovides aneasymeansfor carrying bag Bin themanner of a handbag.

Whenzit., is desiredto combine bags A `anolB orderv to` carryY tliern` together by means of Suspenders,v I'I, the free.ends29 ofweb straps 28 (on second bag 15;), A are threaded .throughbar i bucklesi ,on rst bag A, as shown in` detail .in Fig. Similarly, ,free ends 38,01? Web straps 2,8arie threaded throughbar buckles 32v atthe bagkpanel 12,01' kbag Ain Ythe manner-shownin Fig, 4. A pair, of., D -rings asis provided .at the bottegrpffsecvndbae B; snap hooks-23 oifsusf ponders I'Iengage Dg-rings 33 Whenbags A and B`, are, Carried in .assembled relation.

To prevent Water,fromL entering into .the bags,

Wehaye provided Va Y Wide circumferential throat inthe ,bspeciiication;,I Throat or sleeve 34' is Vmade of any suitable ilexible water-proofmaterial such as rubber, rubberor plastic-coated canvas, etc.

Ajsleeve orthroat 35"isr'likewise provided onv second` bagmB inthe same mannerand'for the saine purpose as throatv or sleeve 34 Aon bagA.

VvAd ditional straps and buckles maybe ,providecl-onbag A for the attachment in conventional manner of ia blanket'rollybayonet entrenohingy to9l,' and other items ofvequipage. 'Y

An extra pair of snap hooks 36 depending from.

Suspenders I1; may be conventionally engaged; with-a cartridge belt ;orpis to1' .belt (not shown), i

The first bag thus can be closed and-carried Darings: 3.3,. on.. bag-g B to D-rings 2l on bag A.

Inasmuch as Suspenders I' in this position pass under the bottom of bag A, the slack is taken up andno length adjustment of the Suspenders is: necessary.; Bag B is thus completely disengaged, but still closed, and is left behind, to be recpyered later. Where. combat.V conditionspermit, the members of a unit may, advantageously deposit, their bags ,B in one place.. and, markj the site for future. recovery by. service. troops. and redistribution of' thebags to theirv owners, By placingt the usual individual identification marks (nameh Army serial number) on bagBgit's return to the owner is further facilitatedi The. foregoing description of a p referred embodiment-of our combinedfcargo and'comba't lp ack illustrates its structure,'ancl'hseA VIt' WilLbe une derstood that modications; such asreversa'l'of the respectivev positionsiof bar buckles and.` ferruled tips,k or variations in' then dimensioni. and shape of the bags; orothenchanges' mayb'e made ivithoutrimpairing the functionsrofthe'pack. It is therefore` our intention; tolimit' tlieA scope" of our invention only bythe: appended" claims.F4

Weclaim:

l; Ina pack-ofthe classdescribed; thecom binationv Yconiprisingja main' bagA liavingjarcover; suspension-strapssecuredltosaidbag havingfree endsradaptedto be-secured to-pack'-carryir`ig".susponders, andc'barbuckles'on the'opposite ends; coverattaching straps Vhaving Lfree'fends A"adapted toengageiin said bar buckles frcl'osingtlie cover of 'said'A bag Landia Abarb'uckleand ringon the ,opposite ends jofj'said fcover-attacliingstraps; saidv ring vbeing jengageableiwith saidisuspendrs b'ar buckles*securedwothe'opposite sid^of"said bagA fromA said' lasteriarned:- barijbuckles,l a second bag-having a cover andA attaching straps; a plue" rality of., bar buckles `ony the coverpf said'isecon'd' bag,4 one end Yof isaid vstraps being--adaptedtoengage in one vof said'buckles-for securingtne-'coverj ofsaid'bag and extending therethrough", saidex tending, endsof saidl straps Abeing adaptedtcbe secured to vrthebarlouckles on said'irsbag frf suspending saidlsecond bag therefrom'.l

211 In-a twofbag; pack `of the Ytype adapted'to' be suspended., on pack-carrying" suspendrs means for-suspending the bags; on` said"suspen'dv ers comprising suspension;` straps I'secureclfto the coyer, of 'theu'irst bag, said Y,strapsV eachhaving. an end 'adapted 'to be engaged with' said suspend? ers :for suplGQrting the-lirstjbag thereonandan" endiadaptedrto be securediinspositionfor closingA thev cover of saidfirst bag, strap=engaging means# secured on the front .andbackfpanelsbfr'sald rst bag, strapson the-second bagjsecurabledn" said second bag; said straps-also' being adapted to be secured inrencirclng position withthe ends" thereof ,extending nfreely beyond the sidesgofsaid second Abag inY position for-'engaging in thestrap# engaging Ameans von said rst bagforsupporth'g" said second bag from said rst bag, and means on said second bag engageable with said suspenders to form a pair of shoulder loops engageable over the shoulders of a carrier.

3. In a two-bag pack adapted to be supported on pack-carrying Suspenders and comprising a main bag having a front lpanel, a back panel and a cover, and a second bag having attaching straps: (l) a pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the upper portion of said main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engagef able to said Suspenders and the other free end carrying strap-engaging means; and (2) a second pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the front panel of said main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engageable in cover-closing position with the strap-engaging means on one of said first-named straps, and the other free end carrying strap-engaging means engageable with an attaching strap on Said second bag.

4. In a two-bag pack adapted to be supported on pack-carrying Suspenders and comprising a. main bag having a front panel, a back panel and a cover, and a second bag: (l) a pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the upper portion of said main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engageable to said Suspenders and the other free end carrying strap-engaging means; (2) a second pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the front panel of said main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engageable in cover-closing position with the strapengaging means on one of said rst-named straps, and the other free end carrying strap-engaging means; (3) a pair of strap-engaging means secured to the back panel of said main bag; (4) and a third pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to said second bag intermedaite said free ends, said free 6 ends being engageable with strap-engaging means on said main bag to assemble said pack. 5. In a two-bag pack adapted to be supported on pack-carrying Suspenders and comprising a 5 main bag having a front panel, a back panel and a cover, and a second bag having attaching straps and suspender-engaging rings: (l) a pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the upper portion of said l0 main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engageable to said Suspenders and the other free end carrying strap-engaging means; (2) and a second pair of straps, each of said straps having two free ends and being secured to the front panel of said main bag intermediate said free ends, one of said free ends being engageable in cover-closing position with the Strap-engaging means on one of said first-named straps, and the other free end carrying a suslaender-engaging ring and strapengaging means engageable with an attaching strap on said Second bag; whereby said Suspenders selectively support the assembled pack by engagement with said first-named suspender-engaging rings, or the main bag alone by engagement with said lastnamed suspender-engaging rings.

JOHN W. CULL. EINAR NILSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certicate of Correction Patent No. 2,461,526. February 15, 1949.

JOHN W. CULL ET AL. It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 8, for the numeral 16 read 18; column 5, line 43,-o1aim 4, for intermedaite read intermediate;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections there-in that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofice. Signed and sealed this 2nd day of August, A. D. 1949.

\ THOMAS F; MURPHY,

Assistant ommaazoner af Patents. 

